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Topic: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????

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Hawkinole

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Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« on: August 07, 2024, 01:51:20 AM »
We are taking my 4th or 5th trip to Mackinac Island in September. We will be traveling through Wisc. en route to Mackinac, which means we will be traveling through the UP, u betcha' by golly. Then down through the lower peninsula, and back to our home base in NE Iowa.

Any suggestions for things to see or do on this route?

Cincydawg

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2024, 06:57:36 AM »
We stayed three nights in Marquette a while back, interesting town we thought.  We stayed at a Hampton Inn on Lake Superior, there is a smoked fish place adjacent that is/was excellent.  We'd get smoked fish and crackers and some wine and sit on the motel deck for dinner.  You also will see a lot of trees.

FWIW, my wife didn't care for Mackinac Island, it was very crowded that day (July).  

Temp430

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2024, 07:16:24 AM »
Well drinking beer is the official state pass time for Wisconsin and Michigan.  You'll be able to work off the extra calories by swatting at and waving off all the black flies.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2024, 07:22:35 AM »
I'd mention, again, my wife is not a fan of "touristy places", for the most part (nor am I that much, but she dislikes them more).  I'd define them as places with a lot of tourist shops selling trinkets and crap made in China you buy and then bring home and years later find in some box and toss.  Her two least favorite are Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach (which at least has a beach which she does like).  Mackinac Island was not as bad of course, but too far in that direction for her.  She doesn't like Gatlinburg either, but it's not quite as bad as PF.  

Oddly enough, she seems to like Helen, GA for 2-3 hour visits, it's about as touristy as they come.  She somehow accepted it for what it is, and it's small, and has some decent restaurants along the river.  It's kind of a mini-Gatlinburg.  When we take a one night trip up into the mountains, we usually stay at Dahlonega, which is also touristy now, but much more subdued.  Below is the main drag in Helen.  Circa 1960 it was a dying town and the folks decided to adopt a faux Swiss theme and it caught on.


847badgerfan

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2024, 07:35:53 AM »
We are taking my 4th or 5th trip to Mackinac Island in September. We will be traveling through Wisc. en route to Mackinac, which means we will be traveling through the UP, u betcha' by golly. Then down through the lower peninsula, and back to our home base in NE Iowa.

Any suggestions for things to see or do on this route?

On what route?
U RAH RAH! WIS CON SIN!

Cincydawg

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2024, 07:39:51 AM »
We also enjoyed two nights in Petosky on the way back (we were headed north from Cincy).  Those nothern MI towns are nice.

Honestbuckeye

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2024, 07:43:15 AM »
Northern Michigan, and especially the western side are absolutely beautiful.

Make sure to hit up the Traverse City area. Some unbelievable scenery, great restaurants, and wineries.

In fact, if you’re into wineries, there’s some great winery tours up there. As you’re coming down the state try to hit up the sleeping bear sand dunes.  Spectacular.  

Not sure if you are into either golf or fishing, but that part of the country has some of the best fishing in the world and some of the most beautiful golf courses you will ever see.
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utee94

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Cincydawg

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2024, 10:23:43 AM »
The winery tour thing has really taken off, it's even starting up in France in some places.  A lot of money to be made in it.

We're doing a four winery tour in Sedona one day.  I've never had wine from AZ, it's probably "OK" and over priced.

There is a "wine trail" in north Georgia which is ... OK.  I even see vineyards off I-75 in Florida.

utee94

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2024, 10:49:24 AM »
Lots of vineyards popping up in Central Texas and the Hill Country.  A couple are good.  Some are okay.  Some... not so much.

But I can find something drinkable just about anywhere and touring them when they're so close to one another is a lot of fun. Several of them have very good kitchens and so they have tasting pairings and/or meals that are quite excellent.

Cincydawg

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2024, 11:10:55 AM »
We hit up a couple wineries when we were in Austin, one of them was quite good and not overpriced, nice location.  I forget the name, I joined their wine club for a while, the lady who hosted us got some of their wines for it.

847badgerfan

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2024, 12:38:28 PM »
Wine tours are huge in Italy (Tuscany).
U RAH RAH! WIS CON SIN!

Cincydawg

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2024, 03:58:59 PM »
I'm told that some wineries make more money on their wine tastings than in wine sales, I think they include their wine club and the on premise tasting fees in that.

One winery which I like a lot (Regusci) has gone to no retail at all, I think they include three restaurants, the rest is wine club and Internet.  So, they cut out the distributor and the retailer markups.  

I like everything on the Silverado Trail, but some just are basically touristy.

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: Tourism: What else is there to do in Wisc., and Michigan?????
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2024, 04:26:34 PM »
I'm told that some wineries make more money on their wine tastings than in wine sales, I think they include their wine club and the on premise tasting fees in that.
Wine tastings have gotten pretty crazy. I recall when I first started going (2001) you'd rarely even get charged for a tasting in Sonoma County, although the practice was pretty universal in Napa. But these days you get charged for tastings everywhere, and even in places like Paso Robles a tasting can run $30-50 easy. Some even more.

That's generally for 4-6 <1 oz pours. Often for bottles that average around $40-60, so you're basically getting the equivalent of one glass of wine for the almost the cost of a bottle. 

They waive the tasting fee with a purchase, but often it's a minimum of 2 or 3 bottles purchased to waive a single tasting fee. So if my wife and I both taste, buying bottles may only result in one of the two tastings being waived. Quite often we just get one tasting and split it as a result. That's usually enough to decide if we like the wine enough to buy any, and often we'll each order a standalone glass of wine after the tasting anyway. 

So yeah, I could see the tasting fees being a significant portion of their revenue. 

 

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